Grimonprez's film is the one where Abbey Lincoln and Max Roach crash the UN Security Council, Khrushchev bangs his shoe, and the State Department flies Louis Armstrong to Congo as cover for a CIA-backed coup. Snug Harbor is screening it free on the South Meadow with a live opening set by trombonist Craig Harris, which is exactly the right way to watch a film about jazz as foreign policy. If you see one thing on Staten Island this month, make it this.
What to expect
An open-air setup on the South Meadow with the live trombone set first and the documentary after dark. Bring a blanket or low chair; the meadow is grass. The film runs long, past two hours, so plan for a late finish and a chilly stretch once the sun is fully down.
Good to know
- Take the Staten Island Ferry to St. George, then the S40 bus along Richmond Terrace
- Registration is requested through Snug Harbor's ticketing page even though entry is free
- Bring a blanket or a low folding chair; the South Meadow is open grass
- Bring a layer — the meadow sits near the water and cools fast after sunset
- The film is long, so factor a late ferry back to Manhattan into your plans
- Suits documentary and jazz audiences; the subject matter is adult
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Common questions
Is it really free?
Yes, admission is free. Snug Harbor asks visitors to register in advance through its ticketing page so it can gauge numbers.
What happens before the film?
Doors open at 6:00 PM for a live pre-screening set by American jazz trombonist Craig Harris. The film itself starts at 7:30 PM.
What is the film about?
Johan Grimonprez's documentary traces how American jazz was used as cover for Cold War manoeuvring in Congo around the 1961 assassination of Patrice Lumumba.
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